Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698938372838.pdf (Uganda)
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RECE'T, AMIi.l \o REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GENDER, LABOUR & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN THE DISTRICTS OF MOROTO, AMUDAT, I(APCHORWA, KWEEN, TORORO & JINJA - Office of the Clerk to Par -- :-Parliament Building, rb Kampala, Uganda t, March, 2022 54 ,onf /t I i,' --- l i-rIL Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION.... 2 BACKGROUND 2.1 Gender Based Violence: An Outlook 3 METHODOLOGY... 4 FINDINGS, OBSERVATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS..... 1.

1.
2 3 4 4.L Prevalence of GBV despite a Formidable Legal & Policy Framework..............................4 4.2 Minimal Government involvement in key intenrentions to address G8V.....................8 9 4.2.L Shelters for victims/sunrivors of and people at risk of GBV 4.3 Inadequate Socia[ Senrices as an aggravating factor for GBV 4.3.f Limited Access to Education 4.3.2 InadequateHealthSenrices.. 4.3.3 Limited Access to ICT Senrices... 4.4 Limited Access to Justice 4.5 Cross-border FGM 4.6 Culture and GBV 4.7 The Impact of Covid-l9 on GBV 11 11 t2 13 13 15 16 15 4.4 Integration of Economic Empowerment in the fight against GBV .............18 4.9 cBV & Disability 5 CONCL N (\ t 19 2L &, ,1AA) oe-y\ \ :\ ,\ r- t\rl- I I.
INTRODUCTION Right Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members, This is the Report of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development on Gender Based Violence in the districts of Kapchorwa, Kween, Amudat, Moroto, Tororo and Jinja.

The Report is as a result of an oversight field visit by the Committee conducted from 13th to 17ft September, 2O2l pursuant to Rule 159 (d), and 189 (e) & (g) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
2 BACKGROUND Gender Based Violence (GBV) is one of the challenges in Uganda's social setting that worsens inequalities between genders (males and females), and has a negative impact on various socio-economic rights.
It is a gross violation of fundamental human rights and has severe, long-term negative impacts on the physical, and psychological wellbeing of the survivors, their families, and the community.t The severe effects of GBV, and GBV against women and girls in particular, have been described by the UN Women as a new pandemic.2 The Uganda Crime Report, 2O2O (released in 2021) documents gender based violence as one of the crimes that increased in Uganda over the last one year, with a total of 17,664 cases reported to police compared to 13,693 in20 19, which represents an increase of 29o/o.
This is the state of affairs despite the presence of a fairly strong legal and policy framework relating to GBV.

The Committee undertook a fact finding oversight visit to establish the extent of Gender Based Violence and propose recommendations to curb the same.

'-a: (-, # E).

'.^s I National Policy on Elimination of Gender Based Violence in Uganda, Revised Edition, 2Ol9 p vii.

2https: / /www.unwomen.org/en/news/ stories 12020/4/ statement-ed-phumzile-violence- against-women-during-pandemic.
f,," \\$t\ L )t L./ 2.L Gender Based Violence: An Outlook There is no law that defines gender based violence in Uganda.

However, various policy documents provide an indicator of what GBV entails.
According to the National Policy on the Elimination of Gender Based Violence in Uganda,2Ol9, GBV takes the following forms: a) Physical violence which includes battering and beating; b) Sexual violence which includes rape, child sexual abuse, defilement, and incest; sexual assaults, sexual harassment, sexual perversion, forced prostitution and trafficking in persons; c) Harmful traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation, early and forced marriages and dowry related violence; d) Economic violence such as denial of assets and economic livelihoods, e) Emotional and psychological violence such as verbal abuse, humiliation and confinement, among others.
The districts selected by the Committee fall broadly within the regions of Sebei and Karamoja, which are critical with regard to GBV for three key reasons.
First, these regions have communities that practice female genital mutilation (FGM), which refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or any other injury to the female genital organs for non- medical reasons.3 In Sebei, FGM is practiced among the Sabiny in Kapchorwa, Kween & Bukwo while in Karamoja it is practiced among the Pokot, Tepeth, and Kadam in Nakapiripirit, Moroto and Amudat districts respectively.
In Karamoja, FGM is performed on girls aged 9-I4 years, while in Sebei, it is carried out on girls aged 14 years and above.

Secondly, the two regions of Sebei and Karamoja also score poorly in many indicators including rate of children going to school, levels of literacy, poverty, and households headed by women.
Thirdly, the two regions have the highest incidents of GBV in the country as reported by the Uganda Police Crime Report and have many areas that are hard to reach, meaning they lack a number of services that may be easily available to other places, and it is easier for cases of GBV to go on_ with repo PJdr'$ s Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation, Act 2O1O 2 N\iStt 3 METHODOLOGY The Committee: a) held meetings with: 1. ii.

iii.

iv.

i. ii.

iii.

b) iv.

v. vi.

vii.

viii.

ix.

x. xi.

xii.

xiii.


xiv.

xv.

xvi.
Officials from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development Local leaders in the respective districts Development partners Young people & victims andlor survivors of GBV reviewed various literature on Gender Based Violence and made reference to various documents including: The Universal Declaration of Hurnan Rights Convention on the Elimination of All Forrns of Discrimination against Wornen The International Covenant on Econornic, Social and Cultural Rights The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2O7O The Domestic Violence Act, 2010 The Children Act, Cap.
59 The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act The Penal Code Act, Cap.

12O The Land Act, 1998 The Third National Development Plan The Uganda Gender Policy, 2OO7 The National Policy on Elimination of Gender Based Violence, 2016; The African Charter on Human and People's Rights The Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community I i\ .
r I I I c,cto &.N q \ 3 ,1, i' i./ \ \ 4 FINDINGS, OBSERVATTONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS From the oversight visit, the Committee made the following findings, observations, and recommendations.

4.L Prevalence of GBV despite a Formidable Legal & Policy Framework Uganda is a party to various international legal instruments that have a bearing on human rights, and has a national legal and policy framework that is fairly strong and gender sensitive.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 which is the benchmark for all human rights, provides for the right to life, liberty, security of the person, equality and dignity for all human beings against all forms of violence and discrimination.

It further bars the subjection of human beings to any form of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
The Convention on the Elimination of A11 Forms of Discrirnination against Wornen (CEDAW), which Uganda ratified in 1985, as well as its Optional Protocol, enjoin state parties to condemn discrimination against women in all its forms through the adoption of appropriate means including legislation and policy, and assurance of women advancement in the political, social, economic and cultural arena.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Uganda acceded to in 1995, augments the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by providing for the right to life and the right to liberty and security of the person.

The International Covenant on Econornic, Social & Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which Uganda acceded to in 7987, provides for the right to equal protection under the law and the right to the highest standard of physical and mental health.
In Africa the African Charter on Human and People's Rights underscores the need for equality and equal protection under the law for human beings ctive of sex, as well as the need to respect the integrity of the human lrrespe onri male and female.

The Protocol to e African Charte person 4 ,:,", lt l( _ t' P\r'-'i) -l $..*r+Sq I I fr-,.
\ ,'i \ .-., I Hurnan and Peoples' Rights, whichUganda ratified in 2O1O, mandates states parties to combat all forms of discrimination against women through appropriate legislative, institutional and other measures as well the right to dignity and respect of every woman as a person and free development of her personality.
The Treaty for the Establishrnent of the East African Comrnunity under Article 3 (3) (b), mentions a country's observance of hurnan rights and social justice as one of the rnatters to be taken into accortnt by the Partner States in considering the application by a foreign country to becorne a mernber of, be associated with, or participate in any of the activities of the Comrnunity.
However, while the Comrnunity had enacted the East African Cornrnunity Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2016 and the Anti Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2OL4, the Bills have never been assented to by the heads of state and yet they wor:ld go a long way in addressing GBV through the harrnonisation of Partner States'laws relating to FGM and trafficking in persons respectively.
Internally, Uganda has a wide array of legal and policy instruments with a bearing crGBV which, if fully implemented, can go a long way in curbing the vice of GBV.

The National Policy on Elimination of Gender Based Violence, 2016 has the objectives of, among others, reducing the prevalence of gender based violence and foster a zero tolerance environment, and promote comprehensive care and support services to survivors/victims of gender based violence.
The National Children Policy, 2O2O whose goal is improved realization and enjoyment of all children's rights for survival, development, protection and participation by all children in Uganda, aims at, among others, providing a coordinated national framework to prevent, respond to, and protect children from all forms of ce, exploitation, abuse and neglect.
# \ a, $"^^' 5 f':\ li , l', .v, .\ \\\N( I i .1r.. i.> .-), The 1995 Constitution, under whose National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy XIV, mandate the State to fulfill the fundamental rights of all Ugandans to social justice and economic development and in particular to ensure that all development efforts are directed at guaranteeing maximum social and cultural well-being of the people.
Article 22 the Constitution protects the right to life and accords women full and equal dignity of the person with men, while under Article 24 it prohibits subjection of any person to any form of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Article 32 prohibits, laws, cultures, customs or traditions that are against the welfare or interest of women or that undermine their status while Article 33 grants women full and equal dignity of the person with men and obligates the state to protect women and their rights, taking into account their unique status and natural maternal functions in society.
Further, Article 31 accords all adults of the age of 18 years the right to form and found a family, as well as the right to own property under Article 26.

The Dornestic Violence Act, 20 1O provides a broad description of domestic violence including an act or omission which harms, injures or endangers the health, safety, life, limb or well-being, whether mental or physical, of the victim or the causing of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse and economic abuse.
The Act further provides for the protection and relief of victims of domestic violence; punishment of perpetrators; procedures and guidelines to be followed by court in relation to the protection and compensation of victims of domestic violence; the jurisdiction of court; enforcement of orders made by court; and empowers the family and children court to handle cases of domestic violence.
The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2OlO defines FGM and creates the offence of female genital mutilation, imposes liability and a prison term of not more than ten years for a person who out FGM.

carrles -) ,&o* 6 r1, 1r (__- \tYt+ 3 I i{, "\- - I ,;, # The Penal Code Acta criminalises the infliction of grievous harm by one person to another and provides for the offences of murder and manslaughter which often occur as a result of GBV.
The Children Acts prohibits harmful customary or cultural practices which expose a child to any customary or cultural practice that is harmful to his or her health, wellbeing, education or social-economic development.

Under the Act, in determining any matter concerning a child, the guiding principle is the welfare of the child.
The Land Act, 1998 as arnended provides for security of occupancy on family land for a spouse to use family land and to give or withhold his or her consent to any transaction which may affect his or her rights.

Despite the elaborate laws and policies, gender based violence is still prevalent in Uganda.

A Survey carried out in 2Ol7 by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics6 indicates that in the regions of Sebei and Karamoja 26.7% of the women had undergone FGM.
Through interaction with various officials and the community, the Committee established that spousal violence, especially wife beating; denial of economic opportunities; sexual violence including rape, child sexual abuse, defilement, and incest, sexual assaults, sexual harassment, forced prostitution and trafficking in persons; harmful cultural practices including denying women the right to own land, teeth removal, and tattooing, among others; were all taking place and negatively impacting the lives of women and girls.
The Committee observes that while the policy and legal framework is fairly solid, a number of shortcomings still exist within the law and its implementation.

First, none of the laws creates an obligation for the state to either construct shelters for victims of gender based violence or provide them with legal representation.

As such, rehabilitation and access to justice are often elusive for most of the victims.

Secondly, the failure to implement the laws is a big setback.
The failure to popularise the relevant laws through translation into local languages and sensitisation and mindset change through various media and the use of existing a Chapter 120, Laws of Uganda s Chapter 59, Laws of Uganda 6 Uganda Bureau of Statistics Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Survey Report, October 2017 F'u* 7 F'j; .

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- ar, ,IL t^ structures such as Women's Councils and other Councils, means that people are kept away from knowledge and the laws cannot be effective.

Recommendation The Cornmittee recommends that: t. tt.
Goaernment should put in place m,eosttres to translate and implernent all existing laws on GBV and popularise them through existing strttctures such as Women's Councils and other Councils; The Domestic Violence Act be amended to prouide for a gender impact assessment before commencement for all goaernment projects, and an obligation for the state to prouide shelters for and legal representation to uictim.s and surtiaors of gender based uiolence, and create tougher punishm;ents for perpetrqtors of FGM on minors.
4.2 Minimal Government involvement in key intenrentions to address GBV The Committee found that the bulk of the work regarding interventions to address GBV falls squarely on the shoulders of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other non-state actors, and government is, in most instances, nearly absent.
The Committee found that development partners working in Sebei and Karamoja, including the UNFPA, Plan International, MIFUMI, UNDP, Voluntary Services Oversees (VSO), UNAIDS, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the Roman Catholic Church, among others, carry out roles that would otherwise be played by Government.

In Amudat, the Roman Catholic Church at Kalas provides refuge to girls and women fleeing GBV.
It is the only such centre in the whole of Amudat and provides skilling as part of its rehabilitation services.

The challenge, however, is that due to limited infrastructure, the victims cannot be kept for long and have to go back to their communities to provide space for other victims and/or survivors.
While the local governments in the various districts make efforts to reach the population, it was establis that their efforts are hampered the Commi by limited resources (' rl cul-t\ i', t';),it \\ f't I I I \ The Committee found that while the efforts of development partners are central to curbing GBV, there was duplication with a number of CSOs doing the same or similar things and concentrated in the same places.
It is the observation of the Committee that this instead undermines efforts to curb GBV given that some places are left without services.

Recommendation The Comtnittee recommends that the Ministry of Gend.er, Labour and.

Social Deaelopment should take lead in qll efforts to address GBV, and plan and budget for all the interttentions and coordinate and monitor all state and non-actors.
4,2.L Shelters for victims/survivors of and people at risk of GBV Shelters for victims and/or survivors of GBV play a critical role in providing safe spaces for those at risk by enabling them to flee from their perpetrators.

Civil society organisations set up a number of shelters in various parts of the country and they fund and manage them.

This, however, presents a number of challenges.


First, it is difficult for government to effectively monitor the shelters, and they are also susceptible to a number of challenges including lack of funds or change in priorities from the donors.

The Committee found, for example, that in Moroto, the shelter was built and operated by MIFUMI.
When MIFUMI experienced a shortfall in funding in August, 2021, it was forced to close the shelter, forcing victims andlor survivors to go back and reside in the same spaces which they were fleeing in the first place.

Although subsequently, the shelter relocated to one of the buildings owned by government through the Ministry of Gender, plenty of damage was already done.

Most of the structures that function as shelters are inadequate in terms of infrastructure.
Government has put in place a number of Guidelines relating to GBV including: Guidelines for the provision of Psychosocial Support to Victims/Survivors of Gender Based Violence; the Referral Pathway for Response to Gender Based Violence Cases in Uganda (2O13) Guidelines for establishment and Management of GBV Shelters in Uganda (2Ol3l; and the Guidelines for Prevention and Response to Female Genital Mutilation (2ol2l I i \ fr^e 9 ,*k t i :;'v /'r However, besides these Guidelines, there has no attempt to institutionalise these shelters and yet they play a critical role in the rescue, referral, and rehabilitation of victims.
Most of the structures in place lack the relevant infrastructure and can admit only a limited number of survivors and for only a few days.

They lack skilling and second chance education opportunities for victims.

During the consideration of the National Budget Framework Paper, the Committee was informed that the budget for erecting regional shelters for GBV victims and/or survivors in all the regions of the country was UGX 10 bn.
The Committee also noted that a remand home under construction in Moroto, meant to be a centre serving the entire region of Karamoja and neighbouring districts, had stalled.

Recommendation The Committee recomrtends that: i. Gouernment should prouide funding of UGX TObn through the Ministry oJ Gende4 Labour & Soctal Deaelopment in FY 2O22/23 to establish and operationalise shelters for uictims of GBV in all regions of Uganda, prioritizing regions uith higher incidents of GBV; ii.
Goaernment should institutionalise the shelters Ministry of Gend.er, Labour & Soci al Deaelopmentl through the ttt tv.

v. Gouernment should equip all shelters utith the requisite seraices necessary to empouter the aictims srtch as psgchosocial support, rehabilitation, skilling and toolkits, and second.
cha,nce education, among others; the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Deaelopment should collaborate uith local goaernments and deueloprnent partners in ntnning and inspecting the shelters; the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Deuelopment should fast track the construction of the rehabilitation centre in Moroto.
t \r t, '-arry# er"* 10 t'\'-,..-) I I 4.3 Inadequate Social Senrices as an aggravating factor for GBV The Committee notes that areas that are underserved with regard to key aspects such as access to & affordability of education, health and ICT services suffer disproportionately from cases of GBV.

4.3.L Limited Access to Education The Committee observes that there is a correlation between education and the perpetration of GBV.
Education provides avenues for skilling, contributes to changing perceptions for the better, especially regarding harmful cultural practices, and empowers people to fight for their rights, among other things.

To the disappointment of the Committee, however, the districts in Karamoja and Sebei generally have fewer schools than the national average.

In Amudat district, there are only three secondary schools and only 12 primary schools.
The scarcity of schools translates into abysmal performance of the Karamoja and Sebei sub regions with regard to nearly all statistics relating to education.

According to the Uganda National Household Survey,2019l20, Karamoja has the lowest Primary School Net Enrollment Ration (NER) at 42o/o; second lowest Secondary School Net Enrollment Ration (NER) at l9%o; lowest adult literacy rate at 25o/o; and the highest proportion of people with no formal schooling at 660/o.
The Committee found that the lack of secondary schools is particularly disturbing because girls who would be going to school are forced into early marriages and forced to become mothers.

Such girls are also targeted by traffickers who recruit them into street begging and sexually exploit them.
It is the observation of the Committee that the limited access to education continues to put the lives of women and girls at risk thus limiting their potential and hindering the attainment of socio-economic transformation.

The Committee established that the Government of Uganda, through the State House Scholarship Scheme offers 1O0 scholarships annually, to learners from Karamoja to obtain higher education.
The Committee observes that while the initiative is a noble one, there has not been an audit of the same to establish the beneficiaries and assess its impact.

Recommendation The Commi recofitmends that: lri'^^5 \, ,t.-!

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the Ministry of Education and Sports urgentlg scq,le uP the constntction of primary and secondary schools and technical institutions in the Karamoja and Sebei sub reglonsl the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Deaeloptnent under-tq.ke comfiutnitg mobilisation and mindset change initiatiaes to increase school enrollment, retention, and transition; the Minister for Karamoja Affairs present to the House an Eaaluation Report of the Scholotrship Scheme; the Auditor General undertake cltt audit scholarship scheme.
of the State House 4.3.2 Inadequate Health Senrices The Committee observes that access to health services corresponds with better quality of life and that limited access to health services on the other hand severely affects the quality of lives of individuals.
It is further the observation of the Committee that districts in the Karamoja and Sebei sub regions have fewer health facilities than the national average and that this has severe consequences for the lives of people in those districts, especially women and children.
The Committee was informed that the limited number of health facilities and the fact that they are far apart makes many mothers to forcefully undergo FGM while giving birth from traditional birth attendants leading to complications and death in some instances.

In Amudat, the Committee interfaced with a woman who became paralysed after forcefully undergoing FGM at the hands of a traditional birth attendant.
Even when victims of sexual violence go to health centres, they need both medical treatment and psychosocial support.

It is also important that at health facilities, victims/survivors are handled in a way that would not distort evidence.

Recommendation The Committee recommends that Goaerntnent should: I constntct and.
equip health centres in all districts in the Sebei and Karannoja sub regions tn line uiththe goaernntent policg of ensuring that there is a health centre II in eaery parish, health centre III in every sub countg and health centre lll in eaery constitttencg; ploi$$ '\^ clcL\ /' - \_/- 12 \P \ ( I I i\( tt.

train all health utorkers in the clinical management of uictims of sexual violence.
4.3.3 Limited Access to ICT Senrices The regions of Sebei & Karamoja are inadequately served with regard to ICT Services, and this makes them vulnerable because they lack information regarding prevention and access to services for victims, among others.

It has to be appreciated that ICT is an enabler for all sectors and is key to ensuring that no one is left behind, in line with the call by the UN Agenda 2O3O and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Access to ICT services in terms of, especially, communications infrastructure, is key to bridging the gap between government and its citizens and passing on vital messages, including those aimed at addressing GBV.

The Committee found that in Amudat district, for example, there is no radio station from Uganda that broadcasts in the area, with the only radio station accessible being a private one in Kenya.

As a result, the only effective way of communicating to the people of Amudat is through Kenya.
This, in a country where radio is the number one source of information for the majority of the population, and where one of the functions of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation under Section 5 (1) of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation Act, 2005 is "to achieve and sustain comprehensive national radio and television coverage throughout the countqy'' leaves a lot to be desired.
Recommendation The Cornmittee recommends that the Ministry of Information, Communication Technologg and National Guid.ance should connect the whole of Sebei and.

Karamoja to the tlganda Broad.cq.sting Corporation Radio and Teleaision Network.

4.4 Limited Access to Justice The contribution of the Justice, Law & Order Sector (JLOS) in the fight against GBV cannot be overemphasised.

Access to justice is important for victims, and is also crucial as a deterrent.
For victims to access justice, it is important that they can access various institutions such the police, courts, and prisons and that are functional.

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: ) The Committee found, however, that a number of barriers exist that mean that the bulk of incidents of GBV are not reported, making access to justice almost impossible for the victims.

For the cases reported, systemic challenges also exist.
Police is severely understaffed and underfunded and relies on funding from partners such as Oxfam to execute functions relating to GBV.

According to the Police Crime Report of 2O2O, out of the 80,OO0 personnel that the police should have as approved by the Ministry of Public Service, there are only 46,000.
The aspect of investigations, which is critical where severe forms of GBV are concerned, is particularly affected, with only 5,292 CID officers out of theL9,843 approved by the Ministry of Public Service.

That is not to mention the acute need to train and facilitate police officers, especially those in the Child and Family Protection Unit, to avoid corruption and requiring victims to facilitate them.
The Child and Family Protection Unit is not well funded and is mostly supported by donors and there is lack of basics such as stationery and means of transport.

More often than not, victims have to transport officers to scenes of crime.
Regarding courts of law, a study by the Centre for Public Interest LawT highlights a number of challenges including: financial and infrastructural constraints; case backlog; lack of judicial accountability to the citizens; and inequality and discrimination of justice which seems to suggest that justice is not always dispensed on a first-come first-served basis; among others.

The distribution of courts throughout the country presents another cause for worry, moreso in places far flung from the centre.
There are, for example, 73 courts in the country without prosecutors as per the Police Crime Report of 2O2O, and in several places litigants have to trek several miles chasing justice.

Expecting proper and timely investigations against this backdrop is a tall order.

While the Judiciary has made attempts to better the situation through the introduction of special sessions of the High Court to handle GBV cases, more needs to be done to address all the bottlenecks that impede access to justice.
Recommendation The Committee recommends thqt: 1. the Ministry of Justice & Constitutional Affairs should set up more courts in the country, especiallg in areas utith fewer courts and a high preualence of GBV cases; 7 Centre for Public Interest Law, In Dire Straits?

The State of the Judiciary Report, 2016, pg 1.4 Yr^l-h M -$\$\q \ ( I tl tll.
the Ministry of Internal Affairs should strengthen the Child and Familg Protection tlnit in all police stations, and train and facilitate police officers in handling and inaestigating GBV c@ses; the Ministry of Local Goaernment should finance and induct the Local Council executiaes on their roles and responsibilities regarding familg and child protection.
4,5 Cross-border FGM The Committee established that because of the proximity of Sebei and Karamoja to Kenya and the existence of porous borders, many girls and women have undergone FGM procedures from Kenya.

Ugandans along the borders in Karamoja and Sebei have cultural and ethnic ties with their neighbours across the border.
The Committee was further informed that there were cross-border engagements with Kenya under the auspices of the UNFPA which had a positive impact on reducing the incidents of cross border FGM.

However, there are still incidents of cross-border FGM in both Sebei and Karamoja.

The task of curbing FGM that occurs across the border is made even more difficult because it presents an economic opportunity for the motorcycle operators that ferry people across the border.
Cross border FGM flourished during the lockdown as government's efforts and resources were shifted towards curbing Covid-19.

Like Uganda, Kenya has legislation against FGM in the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2OI7.

The FGM legislation in the two countries, in addition to other existing pieces of legislation, should be sufficient to address cross border FGM.

Other mechanisms also exist.


In April 2019, officials from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Somalia signed the Mombasa Declaration aimed at stopping cross border FGM.

It is important to note, however, that that while the East African Legislative Assembly passed the EAC Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Bill, 2016, and the EAC Anti Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2016 the same have not been ratified by the respective Heads of State.
Recommendation Committee recommends \\ ' .-1,' ft,r" 15 C(th ) ,i \ \, l' ) '\( N\NV\.\q I a) Gouernment should engdge the Goaernment of Kenga regarding the preaalence of cross border FGM uttth a uiew to ending the practice; b) the Heads of State the EAC Partner States should assent to the EAC Prohibition of Femq.le Genital Mutilation Bill, 2076, and the EAC Anti Trafficking in Persons Bill, 2016.
4.6 Culture and GBV The Committee notes that one of the reasons as to why FGM is practiced by many in the communities where it is prevalent is because it is looked at as a norm required by culture, and is a sign that girls are ready for marriage among the Pokot, Tepeth, and Sabiny and often results in child marriage.

In Kapchorwa, the Committee was informed that there is need for alternative rites of passage to replace FGM.
Other harmful aspects of culture include widow inheritance that subjugates women as well as denying women the opportunity to own factors of production including land.

Women that have not undergone FGM are also shunned, especially in Sebei.

The Committee was informed that in many areas men chose to attend functions with women that have undergone FGM, leaving their wives who did not undergo the procedure.
In some instances this forces such wives to voluntarily undergo FGM to avoid being socially ostricised.

Recommendation The Cornrnittee recofitmends that Goaernment engage o,ll cultural and other leaders in the fight against GBV, and utork with them to haue alternatiae rites of passage.

4.7 The Impact of Covid-19 on GBV Covid-19 and the resultant lockdown worsened the situation of GBV globally The lockdown resulted into the closure of schools , forcing school going children I \,\ { \ .i pr"^.
(^ I i ( to stay at home, further compounding existing gender and social inequalities as has been observed by the UNFPA.s The Committee was informed by development partners and local leaders in Sebei and Karamoja that teenage pregnancies and early marriages had particularly shot up and in all the districts visited, young girls were particularly at a higher risk as they were increasingly married off as a means of raising income during the lockdown.

In places where FGM is practiced, incidents of FGM went up.
A number of teenage pregnancies were as a result of defilement, rape andf or incest.

The high incidents of teenage pregnancies is particularly troublesome given that most of the teenagers who get pregnant are more likely not return to school if they were going to school in the first place, and are also more likely to raise destitute children.

The challenge of teenage pregnancies during Covid- 19 is not unique to the districts visited.
According to the UNFPA, a total of 354,736 teenage pregnancies were registered in2O2O, and 196,499 in the first six months of 2021, throughout the country.e In cases where the perpetrators of GBV were in homesteads, the lockdown meant that both victims and perpetrators were forced to stay in the same spaces, aggravating the already precarious situation.
The lockdown and the resultant restriction on movement also made it impossible for those facing any form of GBV to seek redress or even access the reception centres, and made it more diflicult for victims to access health facilities, leaving their fate in the hands of traditional birth attendants where many underwent FGM.
Moreover, interventions to address GBV were all scaled down as efforts and resources were channeled towards ending the pandemic while most people were avoiding health centres for fear of contracting Covid-l9.

Development partners also experienced a drop in funding, leading to scaling down of a number of activities.
Recommendation 8 UNFPA, Impact of the COVID-l9 Pandemic on Family Planning and Ending Gender-based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage, available at Impact of the COVID-19 g Gender-based Violence, Female Genital Pandemic on Familv Plannins and Mutilation and Child Marriaee I United Nations Population Fund (unfpa.ore) ehttps: / / uganda.unfpa.
org/ en/ -teenage-pregnancy-d ,-covid- 19- L7 lr l \"c./ t\ I The Committee recomntends that the government should increase funding for the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Soctal Deuelopment to ad.d.ress Gender Based Violence.
4.8 Integration of Economic Empowerment in the fight against GBV Poverty is a risk factor associated with gender based violence and often reinforces gender inequality.r0 In all the districts visited, the Committee found that lack of economic opportunities and empowerment made women and girls vulnerable to various forms of GBV such as intimate partner violence and denial of economic opportunities.
The lack of economic empowerment also makes it difficult for people that face the risk of GBV to seek help, which often requires financial resources in terms of transport fare or communication services.

The lack of economic empowerment was compounded by the Covid- 19 pandemic and the resultant closure of markets, closing out the few opportunities available to some of the women.
The situation was not helped by the fact that the districts in the Karamoja sub region have a perennial problem of drought, further sinking any hopes of economic empowerment for those, especially women, who may wish to engage in agriculture.

The lack of economic empowerment is further worsened by the cultural practices that dictate that women must not own resources, especially land, which is a key factor of production.

Further, women do not take part in animal rearing, because it is a preserve of men.
The Committee observes that in addressing GBV and its causes, it is important to address the lack of economic empowerment.

While various laws provide for equality, the reality is that the most vulnerable in society do not benefit from them.

In Kween and Moroto, bye laws have been enacted that seek to further empower women.
In Tororo and Amudat, the Committee was informed that enforcement of bye laws and Ordinances is delayed as the districts wait to obtain clearance from the Office of the Solicitor General.

It is imperative for people vulnerable to GBV to have access to economic resources/empowerment to reduce reliance on their perpetrators and make them less susceptible to abuse.
It is also important to note that some aspects of GBV t0 World Bank, Development Marketplace: Innovations to address Gender Based Violence, available at ,fr\d^r\i 18 00L\ \ lrt i \, -:. '

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,.r ,-'- --..{ ',i I[:-\ \ l such as FGM contain a monetary inducement for various categories of people such as surgeons and even brokers who connect potential patients to surgeons.

Alternative sources of income are important for such people as an incentive to desist from the vice.
Recommendation The Committee recommends that: i. governtnent should.

put in place afJinnatiae actiort,neasttres aimed at prouiding cccess to economic opportunitles to people at risk of GBV; tt.

ttt.

goaerntnent should set up skilling progrctmmes for communities at risk of GBV; the OfJice of the Solicitor General should fast track the processing of all bge lauts and Ordinances to enq.ble enJorcement bg local goaernments.
4.9 cBV & Disability Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are vulnerable and face many more challenges than their able bodied counterparts.

They are less likely to access education, opportunities for economic empowerment, and less likely to report cases of abuse when they suffer GBV.

In the districts visited and in other areas of the country generally, there is a dearth of data relating to PWDs, let alone with regard to GBV.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development (MoGLSD) runs five residential rehabilitation and training centres in the country that cater for PWDs, in those areas but admits none of them is operating at full capacity.tt The Committee visited Mpumudde Rehabilitation Vocational Centre -in Jinja district to assess its state and look into ways that victims of GBV can be assisted.
The Committee was astonished to find that the institution had dilapidated structures with asbestos roofing, pit latrines which needed emptying, unfenced premises, inadequate staffing, and inadequate assistive devices, among other things.

Inhabitants, who have various disabilities including visual impairment, have no water source and have to cross a busy town road to collect water.
The tt Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development, Situational Analysis for Persons with Disabilities in ganda, September, 2O2O pg xviii 19 PpNe il l,\.

( il -,/ : / -\::', \ I 7 centre has only 1 out of the required 7 instructors, and two out of the required 7 workshop attendants.

The centre is a microcosm of what is in other centres.
The Committee also found that there is virtually no coordination between Jinja District Local Government and the rehabilitation centre, making collaboration difficult.

The Committee notes with concern that the curriculum of this particular centre and the rest of the centres is not in line with the Business, Technical & Vocational Education & Training (BTVET) or the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) which would go a long way in providing skills to those that go through the centre.
The Committee further notes with concern that the rehabilitation centres for PWDs are not evenly distributed throughout the country.

In Karamoja, for example, there is no such centre.

Kobulin Youth Skills Training Centre in Napak that is used as a rehabilitation centre for victims of child trafficking, does not have children with disabilities, and yet they are more vulnerable to all forms of abuse.
Recommendation The Committee recommends that: i. UGX 7Obtt, indicated a.s a.n unfunded prioritg in the FP Nqtiona.l Bttdget Fra.nteutork Pa.per for the Ministry of Gettder, La.bour & Socia.l Deuelopntent, be a.ppropriqted to the Ministry of Gender, La.bottr & Socia.l Deuelopntent for the refurbishntettt, equiptttettt a.ttd retooling of a.ll aocationq.l reha.bilitatiott centres in the country to ntake thent fttllg functiona.l; ii.
the Ministry of Education and Sports should: a) a.lign the curriculutrt of a.ll rehq.bilitation cetttres to the .Elrrsirzess, Technica.l & Vocationa.l Education & Tra.ining (BTVET) and the Directorate of Industria.l Tra.ining; b) fill a.ll the staffing gaps in a.ll the aocationq.l re ha.bilitatio tt c e tttre s ; the Ministry of Gend.er, Labour & Social Deaelopment should implement inclusiue education at Kobulin Youth SkiIIs Training ntre and across all the Ministry's lll &)d€, /:!

.)
.)

&- l.i V, { -- r1' { l-.c rl I 5 CONCLUSION Gender based violence presents numerous challenges to development in various ways.

It destroys the self-esteem of its victims and inhibits the realization of their potential and affects their health, reproductive and sexual life of its victims and, in some situations, results in death.

It is important to note that the victims of GBV are not exclusively women.
In Tororo district, the Committee found that in the overwhelming majority of domestic violence cases, the victims were men, and fewer of them were willing to report cases to police.

Thus it is important to have interventions that address victims regardless of their sex or gender.

In order to attain Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieue gender equality and empower all women and girls, it is important to have efforts to end GBV.
In particular, Goal 5:1 calls upon the government to end all forms of violence against women and girls; eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
The Committee observes that in order to live up to the Sustainable Development Goals, it is important to ensure not only that effective laws and policies are put in place, but also that these are effectively circulated and the population sensitised about them and that they are implemented.
There is need to ensure that government is in the driving seat to eliminate GBV as opposed to leaving the burden to development partners which should translate into increased funding for the Ministry of Gender, Labour & Social Development to combat the vice.
The Committee cannot stress enough the importance of economic empowerment through various government led interventions and the need to review legislation with gaps and implement existing ones as well as address the bottlenecks that exist among the JLOS institutions.

It is critical to view GBV as a human rights issue and appreciate that as long as it takes place, human rights of men, women, and children are being impeded.
It is important that government should report to Parliament on the state of human rights the same way it does to the United Nations.

In the same breath, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should popularise the 16 Days of activism against GBV to bring more people on board to fight the vice.
Right peaker and Honourable members, I beg to 2t *h c' e I I REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GENDER, LABOUR & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ON GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN THE DISTRICTS OF MOROTO, AMUDAT, KAPCHORWA, KWEEN, TORORO & JINJA NO NAME CONSTITUENCY SIGNATURE SIGNATURE SHEET L2 13 L4 15 16 t7 Hon.

Kabahenda Flavia Rwabuhoro DWR Kyegegwa &u* Hon.

Najjuma Sarah DWR Nakaseke t'{+1 ..\ * '>J r' -L-':rl \$\$NNA -\ ,I I il +iffiffi--- 4--' Hon.

Linda Irene Fort Portal City Hon.


Bakkabulindi Charles Workers'Report Hon.

Acen Dorcas DWR Alebtong Hon.

Obigah Rose DWR Terego Hon.

Avako Melsa Maima DWR Yumbe Hon.

Laura Kanushu PWD National ( Hon.

Kaala Kevin Ojinga DWR Pallisa Hon.

Asiimwe Florence Akiiki DWR Masindi Hon.

Ayoo Jeniffer Nalukwago DWR Kalaki :' Hon.

Lochap Peterkhen Bokora East Hon.

Isabirye Iddi Bunya South Hon.

Kamugo Pamela Nasiyo DWR Budaka Hon.

Ayoo Tonny Kwania County Hon.

Ngompek Linos Kibanda North Hon.


Arinaitwe Rwakajara Workers' Representative 18 Hon.

Waako Peggr Joy Ops National 7 Hon.

Kaberuka James Kinkizi West Hon.

Kabuye Frank Kassanda South Hon.

Kiyaga Hillary Mawokota North Hon.

Mayanja Allan Nakaseke Central a Hon.

Nabagabe Flavia DWR Kassanda \ t9 20 27 22 23 24 Hon.

Businge Joab 25 Hon.

Muhindo Harold Masindi Municipality Bukonzo County East t -\ AY^IL , 'v_'' 10, (_r't /t( J, d1( 't \r.. t 26 Hon.

Waako Mboizi Arthur Budaka 27 Hon.


Byakatonda Abdu Workers 28 29 Hon.

Hon.

Miriam Mukhaye DWR Mbale Rwabushaija Workers Margaret Namubiru 2